Tricky trap for Mega

Prof. Herbert Feith (The Jakarta Post, May 31, 1999) compared the founding fathers of Indonesia to the Amien Rais-Megawati Soekarnoputri team. This is dangerous nonsense. Sukarno-Hatta were founders of the unitary state. Between 1956 and 1966, I knew Bung Hatta well and president Sukarno intimately. Prof. Rais cannot walk in Hatta's shadow. The only ingredient Megawati has in common with her father is her genes. Her courageous opposition against the fascist dictator who ousted her father, with the support of the CIA, will be remembered by history. The top job of president is one she should leave to more qualified compatriots. Luring her into the presidency is an obvious trap set by enemies of Indonesia, the world's most powerful Muslim state.

In the 1980s, Russians called for "Gorby" to reform the communist dictatorship in much the same way as Indonesians call for "Mega" to reform of the military dictatorship. The USSR unitary state was destroyed and with it its economy and power. Indonesia finds itself on the eve of political and economic destruction, and vultures from all sides are waiting for their chance to further divide, steal and grab Indonesia's resources.

Prof. Feith should remember the Sukarno-Hatta partnership ended in divorce. The Rais-Mega cooperation will never even get off the ground because of its lack of expertise in international affairs and its lack of brains, among other things.

Mega will destroy the myth of Sukarno when she fails. In Pakistan, outside forces destroyed the Bhutto myth by letting Benazir return, with the final result of her fleeing to London while her husband lingers in jail. Benazir at least studied law, but still she failed. In India, the Nehru dynasty is being destroyed by Sonia Gandhi. If Mega falls into the trap set for her, she'll destroy the life-work of her father, the unitary state of Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia, Pancasila and the country's initiative in the nonalignment movement in international affairs. In short, she will step into the shoes of Gorbachev, not Bung Karno.

WILLEM OLTMANS

Amsterdam